T helper lymphocytes recognize the VL domain of the isologous mouse myeloma protein 315

The localization of a major determinant on an isologous myeloma protein (M315) which stimulates BALB/c helper T cells was investigated. Augmentation of the adoptive secondary antibody response to NIP-M315 and the idiotype of M315 (Id315) was used as an indicator of helper effects. Spleen cells primed with the light chain of M315 (L315) and its V-domain (VL315) were highly efficient helpers; priming with the fragment containing the two V-domains of M315 (FV315) induced a somewhat weaker helper effect than L315 or VL315. The helper effect was abolished or markedly reduced by treating the primed cells with rabbit anti-brain theta + C. Cells primed with the heavy chain of M315 (H315) effected weak but significant help. The V-domain of H315 (VH315) was incapable of eliciting cells with detectable helper effect. The data indicate that the VL315 embodies a major determinant for T helper lymphocytes. This determinant is expressed on the free VL315 as well as on the complete M315. In contrast, previous studies have shown that BALB/c antibodies produced against Id315 recognize antigenic sites that are only displayed on associated (VL315 + VH315) domains.